Japanese CD of the day / Robert Palmer Island Years 1974-1985

Rober Palmer / Island Years 1974-1985 Japanese box set
Robert Palmer / Island Years 1974-1985 Japanese box set (click to enlarge)

Robert Palmer’s back catalogue has been shamefully out of print for many years, and only recently have US specialist Culture Factory sought to do something about this, with a few select reissues.

However,  Island Years 1974-1985 is a rather special box set released only in Japan in 2007, with an exclusive (and excellent) remastering that has never been used anywhere else. It includes all Robert Palmer’s albums originally released on the Island label between 1974 and 1985: Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley (1974), Pressure Drop (1975), Some People Can Do What They Like (1976), Double Fun (1978), Secrets (1979), Clues (1980), Maybe It’s Live (1982 – with original cover), Pride (1983) and Riptide (1985). Each disc is presented in an exquisitely detailed mini LP-style vinyl replica sleeve.

Unfortunately, for the collector, these sets are now horribly expensive on the used market, but should you ever be tempted you will not be disappointed! Check out the prices below to see what I mean, but also read the reviews!

UK Order: Island Years 1974-1985
“Secrets” from the Japanese box. Inner sleeve exactly replicated.

WIN Tarkus deluxe edition by Emerson Lake & Palmer

Win a copy of Tarkus Deluxe Edition by Emerson Lake & PalmerLast month Sony Music reissued Emerson Lake & Palmer‘s 1971 album Tarkus as a three disc deluxe edition.

Not only do you get the original album remastered but disc two includes new 2012 stereo mixes plus a few unreleased tracks.

The third disc is a DVD-Audio and contains the album in hi-res 5.1 surround sound. This is a new superb 5.1 remix by Steve Wilson. The DVD-A also includes hi-res stereo version of the new 2012 stereo mixes.

We have a copy of the Tarkus Deluxe Edition to give away to one lucky reader.

To be in with a chance of winning this box simply subscribe to our fabulous weekly email newsletter, which keeps you up-to-date with all SuperDeluxeEdition news and reviews, and leave a comment on this post by clicking here (doesn’t matter what the comment is, but why not , tell us why you’d like to win!). If you already receive the weekly newsletter, then just leave a comment.

The competition is open to all. The winner will be picked at random on Monday 29 October and we will contact you via the email address used to subscribe to the newsletter (please ensure the same email address used when leaving a comment).

Good luck! The prize is brand new and sealed.

The Clarke and Ware Experiment / The House of Illustrious box set

The Clarke and Ware Experiment / House of Illustrious Electro-pop legends Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware are to release a deluxe box set of ambient, atmospheric music on 26 November.

The two musicians collaborated twelve years ago, to produce the albums Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle and Pretentious and the pair have continued their project to assemble a totally unique collection of music.
Continue reading “The Clarke and Ware Experiment / The House of Illustrious box set”

McCartney / “Wings Over America” reissue confirmed for 2013

Paul McCartney / Wings Over America

The Wings live triple album from 1976, Wings Over America, will be the next release in Paul McCartney‘s Archive Collection reissue campaign, but fans hoping for a late appearance on the schedules before Christmas 2012, will be disappointed to learn that McCartney’s representatives have confirmed that it will not be released until next year.

The Rock Show concert film will also be issued on DVD for the first time, either as part of the deluxe reissue or as a standalone release (or both).

Paul McCartney’s extensive reissue programme started in late 2010 with Band On The Run. In 2011 McCartney and McCartney II were reissued and last year saw 1971’s RAM re-released in the most lavish deluxe box to date.

This will be the second year in a row that McCartney has failed to take advantage of the lucrative Christmas boom period with his archival deluxe reissues. Last year RAM got ‘bumped’ to early 2012 only to have to wait in the wings (no pun intended) for Macca’s new album Kisses On The Bottom to hit its non-negotiable Valentine’s Day release date (RAM eventually came out in late May).

This year significant Beatles product in September and November (Magical Mystery Tour and Stereo Vinyl box set) has likely influenced the decision to hold fire on Wings Over America until 2013.

Classic Pop magazine: new launch

Classic Pop Magazine
Classic Pop #1 (click to enlarge)

With Q magazine, revamped to appeal to ‘the kids’, Mojo firmly rooted in 1970s rock folklore, and The Word now closed for business, Anthem Publishing think they have spotted a gap in the market for a magazine that treats pop music seriously – a periodical, perhaps, that would appeal to the demographic who read the legendary, irreverent Smash Hits as teenagers in the 1980s.

Those same surly youths will now be in their forties, and despite spending much of their spare time looking for kids’ shoes and helping with homework, the passion and enjoyment for what was a truly golden era for pop music, never goes away.

Classic Pop is the new magazine, and it hit the ‘newsstands’ on 4 October. To give you a feel for the content, this inaugural issue contains an eight-page feature on five decades of Duran Duran, a history of the Pet Shop Boys with their top 25 tracks selected (nice to see Jack The Lad at number 10…) and a ‘classic album’ article focusing on ABC‘s 1982 masterpiece, Lexicon of Love.

With magazine sales declining, Classic Pop is something of a brave move, but like many of you, we love ’80s pop and wish the team every success with this venture. Issue one was a highly enjoyable read and the second issue is due out in early December (it’s bi-monthly).

Look out for the mag at your local newsagent. For those outside the UK, or if you just want an easy life (and to save on the cover price), you can also subscribe.

 

FIRST PICTURES: Johnny Cash / The Complete Columbia Album box

Johnny Cash / The Complete Columbia Albums Collection
59 albums and two new 2CD compilations in this new box

If this was a movie trailer voiceover, Sony’s new 63CD Johnny Cash box set might be described as the ‘box set event of the season’, but it’s not, so we’ll put Hollywood hyperbole to one side and just emphasis that this is one beast of a collection.
Continue reading “FIRST PICTURES: Johnny Cash / The Complete Columbia Album box”

Bryan Ferry Orchestra / The Jazz Age

Bryan Ferry Orchestra / The Jazz Age

Don’t Stop the Dance – The Bryan Ferry Orchestra by BryanFerry

Roxy Music legend Bryan Ferry has re-recorded some of his own compositions, performed by The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, in the jazz style of the 1920s.

Produced by Ferry and Rhett Davies, the album, called The Jazz Age, features instrumental versions of some of his best known songs.

Ferry explains: “After forty years of making records, both in and out of Roxy Music, I thought now might be an interesting moment to revisit some of these songs, and approach them as instrumentals in the style of that magical period. I would like to thank Colin Good and the other outstanding musicians featured on this record for bringing a new and different life to these songs – a life without words”.

The Jazz Age will be released on 26 November on 10-inch vinyl folio edition, twelve-inch vinyl, CD and digital editions.

Track listing

  • 1. Do The Strand.
  • 2. Love Is The Drug.
  • 3. Don’t Stop The Dance.
  • 4. Just Like You.
  • 5. Avalon.
  • 6. The Bogus Man. 7. Slave To Love.
  • 8. This Is Tomorrow.
  • 9. The Only Face.
  • 10. I Thought.
  • 11. Reason Or Rhyme
  • 12. Virginia Plain.
  • 13. This Island Earth.

UK Pre-order: The Jazz Age

Donald Fagen / Sunken Condos 2xLP vinyl review

Donald Fagen / Sunken Condos 2xLP review
Elegant and quirky front cover

Sunken Condos (out this week) is Donald Fagen‘s first solo album since 2006’s Morph The Cat, and Warner Music have issued the album as an exquisitely packaged double LP, pressed on heavy, clear vinyl.
Continue reading “Donald Fagen / Sunken Condos 2xLP vinyl review”

Manic Street Preachers / Generation Terrorists packshot

Manic Street Preachers / Generation Terrorists 3-disc set
Generation Terrorists Legacy Edition (click to enlarge)

Here is an early look at the packaging for the 2CD+DVD ‘Legacy Edition’ of the Manic Street Preachers Generation Terrorists reissue.

Fans will note that the packaging is consistent with the tenth anniversary editions of both  The Holy Bible and Everything Must Go with the folding ten panel digipak slotting into an outer slipcase. Like those previous issues this Legacy Edition will have two booklets glued in place to the end panels. If you haven’t seen the track listing there are details here.

In addition to the Legacy Edition the reissue is also available as an expanded Collector’s Edition box set. Both sets are out on 5th November 2012.

Pre-order the 2CD+DVD Legacy Edition

FIRST PICTURES: Chicago / The Studio Albums 1969-1978 box set

FIRST PICTURES: Chicago The Studio Albums 1969-1978 box set

OUT TODAY from Rhino, Chicago: The Studio Albums 1969-1978. Ten albums from the American rock band presented in simple card sleeves (no gatefolds) in a rigid clam-shell style box.

The contents and track listing can be viewed on the photo below.

The Who / My Generation mono CD

The Who / My Generation mono CD issue

On 19 November 2012 The Who will issue a single disc MONO CD of their 1965 debut My Generation.

The mono version has been issued a few times over the last few years, on various reissues (mainly in Japan), but this release will see the original mono mix widely available to all, at a low price.

The original Mono version is though to be as close as possible to how the band envisaged it sounding in the studio and contains overdubs which were lost in previous Stereo masterings.

This CD completes a busy autumn release schedule for the band, with the Live in Texas DVD already out, and the Live In Hull and Studio Albums vinyl box due soon.

UK Pre-order: My Generation

Track listing:

  • 1. Out In The Street
  • 2. I Don’t Mind
  • 3. The Good’s Gone
  • 4. La La La Lies
  • 5. Much Too Much
  • 6. My Generation
  • 7. The Kids Are Alright
  • 8. Please, Please, Please
  • 9. It’s Not True
  • 10. I’m A Man
  • 11. A Legal Matter
  • 12. The Ox